The Army Air Corps approved the A-2 for production on May 9, 1931, and this A-2 flight jacket history picks up from there. It was horsehide, it had knit cuffs and a knit waistband, and it is still one of the best known pieces of American military clothing. Veterans Day falls on November 11, which makes this a good week to look at where the jacket came from and why it never went away.
From a 1930 Specification to Wartime Service
An Air Corps specification and drawing were issued in 1930, and the first jacket was wear-tested that September, according to the history of the A-2 jacket. The finished jacket was horsehide with a silk lining, a full collar, a zipper front and knit wool cuffs. Some wartime jackets were made from goatskin, which is why both hides are correct for an A-2 today.
In 1942, General Henry H. Arnold canceled the A-2 order because he wanted something better, and the B-10 followed. The order ended, but the jacket's name and look stayed with it.
The Revival and What Followed
The jacket returned in 1987 for the Air Force's fortieth anniversary. That revival used goatskin because no U.S. source could supply enough horsehide, so the history of the A-2 includes both hides. Avirex and Willis & Geiger were still making A-2 jackets because of public demand when the revival began, according to the same account.
Wearing History Today
Cockpit USA builds A-2 jackets that honor specific chapters. The Tokyo Raiders Horsehide A-2 has a liner printed to honor the April 18, 1942 Doolittle Raid, and starts at $870. The Flying Tigers Horsehide A-2 carries an embroidered chest patch and a blood chit patch on the back, and starts at $960.
Legendary USA carries Cockpit USA as an authorized dealer. The full line is in the Cockpit USA jacket collection, and our A-2 buying guide compares the models by hide and price. They are heritage flight jackets, not armored riding jackets, so they have no CE armor.
Why Riders Wear the A-2
The short cut, the collar and the knit waistband give the A-2 a shape that works on a cruiser, in a diner parking lot, or at a Veterans Day ride. Leather also changes with wear, so a broken-in A-2 looks different from a new one. Wear it for the story, and wear real gloves and a helmet when you ride.
Honoring the Jacket and the People in It
The A-2 has been approved, canceled, revived and copied, and it is still being worn by people who value the story. If you are buying one for a veteran this month, pick a model whose story you can tell, check the size chart, and let the leather do the rest.
The Air & Space Forces Magazine history of the A-2 jacket covers the specification and revival, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day page covers the November 11 observance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the A-2 flight jacket first approved?
- The Army Air Corps approved the A-2 jacket for production on May 9, 1931, after an Air Corps specification and drawing were issued in 1930 and the first jacket was wear-tested that September. It was horsehide with a silk lining, and that horsehide-and-knit-trim look is still the pattern people mean by an A-2 today.
- What was the A-2 jacket made of?
- The original A-2 was horsehide with a silk lining. Some jackets made during World War II used goatskin. When the Air Force revived the jacket in 1987, it used goatskin because no U.S. source could supply enough horsehide. Cockpit USA offers A-2 models in horsehide, goatskin and lambskin.
- Why did the Army Air Forces stop ordering the A-2?
- General Henry H. Arnold canceled the A-2 order in 1942 because he wanted something better, and the B-10 jacket followed. The B-10 was olive drab cotton twill with a pile liner and a fur collar. The A-2 itself was revived in 1987 for the Air Force's fortieth anniversary.
- What is the Flying Tigers A-2 jacket?
- The Cockpit USA Flying Tigers Horsehide A-2 is a horsehide A-2 with an embroidered chest patch and a blood chit patch on the back. It starts at $960 at Legendary USA, which carries Cockpit USA as an authorized dealer. Check the product page for sizes and the current price before you order.
- What does the Tokyo Raiders A-2 jacket honor?
- The Cockpit USA Tokyo Raiders Horsehide A-2 has a liner printed to honor the April 18, 1942 Doolittle Raid. It is a horsehide A-2 that starts at $870, and it is listed as made in the USA. Check the product page for sizes and the current price before you order.